Tips for buying a 2nd hand scooter

When purchasing a second hand scooter careful consideration and advanced planning can prevent a costly mistake. The older and cheaper the scooter  the higher the probability of buying a lemon. The ongoing cost of ownership can outweigh the cheap purchase price. Tyres and batteries are costly replacement items that can wear out prematurely if the scooter is not able to be adjusted or repaired. Whilst the opportunity exists to buy cheaply there is little or no recourse with many second hand purchases as cost of repairs is more than the scooter is worth.

Here are some of our top tips:

• Is the scooter a known brand or model, - some scooters cannot be repaired and parts are not available. There is currently no safety or regulatory requirements for mobility scooter imported into NZ.  
• Check the tyres, do they still have good tread, note any uneven wear.  - this may indicate a steering, suspension or alignment problem that cannot be fixed.
• Does the seat feel firm, how much padding is there,  - a worn,  sloppy or insecure seat can make you feel unsafe and  uncomfortable when riding the scooter. 
• Is the seating and steering / tiller adjustable  - fatigue and pain occurs if the scooter cannot be set to suit your physical requirements and driving style.  
• Are switches and knobs operational, check lights, indicators speed variations work. Flashing lights on the operational controls can indicate a potential problem. Quality scooters have programmed fault codes to warn of any safety issues. Does the scooter come with a manual.
• Check the scooters stopping ability forward, backward and on a slope.(This can be done walking beside the scooter) - the drive unit is programmed to set parameters that control the safe operation of the scooter. Many factors eg. power surges, electronic interference etc can cause units to become faulty.
• Ride the scooter, is it comfortable, does it feel safe ? If you feel uncomfortable on the scooter, or driving the scooter makes you tired and causes you pain then you won't use the scooter and it is a waste of money no matter how cheap it is.
• Recently there have been news items where mobility scooters have caught fire, stopped suddenly and won't restart, or failed to stop. Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure the scooter remains safe.
• Getting a good deal when buying a used scooter is important to everyone. 
• BE WISE  -  BUY A SAFE SCOOTER.